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July}, 1930,

H. E. HOUSEMAN 1,769,579 YARN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULARKNIT'I'ING MACHINES v 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1925 W n 70R July 1,. 1930. H. E HOUSEMAN 7 1,769,579 l YARN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES I Filed June- 19, 1925 1 6 shet s-Sheet 2 v52 5 FIG. 2 r I I v M/VE/VTOR 6'4 Hard/a E. Houseman .BY W/TIVESS. fim Q M7 July 1, 1930.

H. E. HOUSEM'AN YARN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 19'. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 5 July 1, 1930.

- H. HOUSEMAN YARN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June '19, 1925 efsheets-sheet 4 #wavrok Mime-5s.

July 1, 1930. Q H. E. HOUSEMAN 1,769,579

. YARN CHANGING. MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 19. 1925 e Sheets-Sheet 5 'ATTOEWB July 1, 1930. H. E. HOUSEb AAN YARN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 19 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet -6 Patented July l, 1236]) sures UNHTE wasn- HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD- TRUM]? BROTHERS MACHINE COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPO- RATION OF DELAWARE YARN-CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINES Application filed June 19,

One of the objects of my invention is to provide simplified mechanism for changing yarn in a circular knitting machine. Another object of my invention is to adapt such mechanism to a plural-feeder Inul-. tiple-feed machine so that when the needles, in their movement of rotation, pass any one of the yarn feeds, any-yarn finger of such feed maybe moved into action and-any yarn finger of such feed that is in action may be moved out of action.

The above objects are accomplished by means of the mechanism hereinafter described, which embodies my invention in its preferred form and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a vertical central View through the machine frame.

a part of the needle cylinder, cam cylinder, dial, dial cap, and the rotatable cams for. operating the yarn-changing devices, and.

showing a set of yarn-changing devices and its corresponding selector.

Fig. 3 is'a plan view' of the yarn fingers and retainers.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rotatable cams. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the rotatable cams, one of the selectors and the lower part of a set of yarn finger actuating slides.

Fig. 6 is a section View, similar to Fig. 5

but taken on line 66 of Fig. 4, showing one of the rotatable cams in operating position.

Fig. 7 is an elevation ofthe clamp and cutter.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the clamp and cutter associated with a part of the cylinder needles and dial needles.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the pattern mechanism and its connections with the selectors.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the pattern chains, its actuating means and the devices immediately actuated thereby.

Fig. 11 is aside elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 10.

' Fig. 12 is a side view showing the application of my invention, in a modifiedform, to a single feed hosiery machine.

tuating the dial needles. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through 1925. Serial No. 38,162.

Fig. 13 is aplan view of the cam disc carrying the yarn finger actuating cams that may be employed in said modified form of my invention. l

The machine (see Fig. 1) comprises a stationary frame a, to which the cam ring I) and the dial cap f are secured, and arevoluble frame 0 carrying the needle cylinder d and the needle dial e. The cylinder 03, the dial 6 and the frame 0 are given a movement of rotation by the engagement of a pinion h with a rack g on cylinder (Z. Cylinder 01 carries the vertical needles 2' (see Fig. 8). Dial e carries the radial needles 7'. Cam ring 12 carries the cams (not shown) for actuating the-cylinder needles 2'. Dial cap carries the cams (not shown) for ac- On a bracket is mounted on cam ring 6 is a shaft on on which are pivotall and independently mount-ed four yarn yarn'carries 1, 2, 3 and 4 (see Figs. 2 and 3). There may be "any desired number of yarn carriers in a set: There may be a single set of yarn fin ers or any desired number of sets of yarn ngers, dependent on whether the machine is asingle-feed machine or a plural feed machine. All the objects of my invention can beaccomplished only on a plural-feed machine. In the embodiment of the invention herein shown, I have provided four sets of yarn fingers.

Between each set of yarn fingers 1, 2 3 and 4 and the needles i is a yarn guide plate 100 having a deep recess 101 through which the yarn travels. is a well known contriva-nce, serves -to guide the yarn to the needles.

Each yarn.finger is under the tension of a spring 11., which tends to hold it in a raised position (out of action). Fingers l, 3 and 4 are shown in such position in Fig. 2. By means of slides 11, 12,13 and 14, the four fingers respectively are capable of being swung down into operative position. This is accomplished by an upward movement of the slides. The slides and fingers constitute the yarn-changing devices.

ngers or On a shaft 0, secured" to bracket- 1:, are I four yarn'finger retainers, or detents, 21,

22,23, and 24, which are adapted to engage the respective yarn fingers and hold them the threads shall lead therefrom to the clamp such I down in operative positionafter their actuating slides have receded. These detents may operate by gravity, but I prefer to actuate each detent by a spring 39. To allow the yarn fingers to be held down by their respective detents, each finger is provided with a rear shoulder 7, back of whlch its detent drops; When the detents are raised, any finger that is down in operative position and that is not held down by its-corres onding slide is free to swing up. Each nger is also provided with a front shoulder 8, back of which its detent drops when the finger swings up, so as to limit the extent of its upward movement; it being desirable that each finger shall be raised a definite distance, and that the several fingers shall be raised to difi'erentlevels, so that at different angles and thereby avoid the possibility of entangling one thread with another.

The following means is provided to raise the detents 21, 22, 23 and 24. Pivoted on.

shaft 0 is a lever t carrying a cross-pinu underlying the, detents. A rod 1) is slidable vertically in guides in bracket is, and whenv The slides are provided with tail pieces which are arranged at different ,distances from the axis of,rotation of the neodle cylinder. The fourrcams specified are" arranged at correspondingly difierent distances from the-centerof rotation, so that the four slides are in the respective paths .of travel of the four cams. The four slides and their respective tail pieces are also arranged one in advance of another and the four cams have their respective actuating surfaces one in advance of the other (see Figs. 4 and 5),. so that one slide of a set is adapted, when actuated, to be actuated at the same point in' the travel of the needle cyl1nder as any of. the other slides.

' When' any slide of a set is actuated b its cam, the latter also actuates a'cam a also pivoted on the needle cylinderat w) by en: gaging a cross pin 3] carried by the cam 02.

Cam w is arranged nearer the axis of rotation than the nearest of the other cams. Rod '0 is in line of travel of cam in, and is operated therebyto lift lever tand pin it and thereby lift allfithe detents 21, 22, 23

and 24, as above described.

cams for operating all four sets of' slides.

meagre It will be observed, from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 5, that while cam m is slightly est slide, so that a slide is engaged by its cam a little before rod 4) is engaged by cam :0. The four cams 31, 32, 33' and 34 are, however, of such greater length than cam 02 that the latter rides beyond rod 4: just before any of the cams'that have lifted a slide ride beyond and release such slide.

Beforefproceeding with a description of the remainder of the machine, a brief description will be given'of the operation of the yarn carriers by the mechanism described.

'Let it be assumed that yarn finger 1 of a given set is down in operative position and delivering. yarn ito the needles, that yarn fingers 2, 3 and 40f the'same set are lifted out of action, and that cams 31, 32, 33 and 34, which are rotating with the needle cylinder, have not 'et reached the slides for operating these n-gers. In these positions of the yarnfingers, alltheir actuating slides '11, 12, 13 and 14 are down, detent 21 engages the rear shoulder a" of yarn finger 1 (thus holding it down .in action), and detents 22, 23 and 24 engage'the front shoulders s of fingers 2, 3 and-4, which are held .up out of action by their respective springs n. Let I it be further assumed that it is desired to lift out of actlon yarn finger 1 and swing down into action yarn finger 2. To accomplish thiscam 32 is lifted (by means to be hereinafter described) on its pivot w as it approaches the tail piece on slide 12. In its lifting movement it engages pin 3/ and lifts cam a2. Cam 32 first engages and lifts slide 12, which engages-yarn finger 2 and swings it down into positionto deliver yarn to the needles. In this movement retainer 22 is lifted out of notch s and drops into notch 1". For a very shortperiod of time after yarn finger 2 ismoved down into operative position, yarn finger 1 remains in operative position, because, as hereinbefore stated, although cam on lifts with cam 32, rod

ois engaged by cam 01: a little after slide 12 is engaged by cam '32. As soon as cam w lifts rod/1;, all the detents 21, 22, 23, and 24 are lifted. Yarn finger 1- is thereupon lifted out of actionby its actuating spring at. (Its lifting movement, however,.is limited by the contact of its tail piece with its actuating slide 11,) Yarn finger 2, however, contlnues to be held down by its actuating slide 12, which continues to be held up by, I

its actuating cam 32. Before cam 32 rides fromunder slide 12, cam w rides from under rod v, thereby allowing lever t, rod u and all the detents 21, 22, 23 and 24 to drop. Detents 21, 23 and 24 drop back of the front shoulders s of yarn fingers 1, 3 and-4, while U detent 22 drops back of the rear shoulder r of finger 2. Very shortly thereafter, cam 32 rides beyond slide 12, and the latter drops, but finger 2 continues to be held in yarn feeding position by the engagement of detent 22 with its rear shoulder.

Thus, one yarn is withdrawn from the needles, while another yarn is introduced to the needles. It is obvious that any yarn carrier that is out of .action may be moved into action, and. that at the same time any yarn carrier that is in action maybe moved-- out of action; and also that any-yarn carrierthat is in action may be maintained in action and that any yarn carrier that-is out ciaotion may be maintained out of actionlj There should be a clampand cutter, or'- some equivalent mechanism, that is operatedto clamp and out the yarn at the time thatits finger is moved out of action, .Anykap-g propriate. mechanism for this purpose may; be used. A workable contrivance'is shownin Figs.7and 8. i The cutter may.comprise'a fixed blade 41 (secured to abracket mounted on the di'al cap 7) and'a movable blade 42, "the,jlatter forming one arm of a bell-crank lever pivot-i; ally mounted on bracket 40. The other arm 43 of, the bell crank is in line of movement of the outer end of lever 25 when the latter is swungup by the actuation of rod 1) vbyfcainra. Pivotally mounted on bracket 40 is another bell-crank lever, one arm 44 of which extends over arin 43, while the other arm' 45 of which acts to clamp the yarn between it and the Wall of bracket 40. A spring 46' holds arm 44 against arm 43.

In the yarn-changing operation hereinbefore described, the action of cam as on rod '1; and lever t lifts arm 43, thereby causing blade 42 to recede from blade 41 (opening the cutter )and causing clamp-45 to recede from bracket 40 (opening the clamp). At the same time, the yarn finger that is moved up out of action draws its yarn between the clamping members and also between the blades of the cutter. As soon as cam w recedes from rod a), lever it drops, and spring 46 closes the. clamp on the yarn and then,

' by reason of the engagement of arm 44 with arm 43, closes the cutter and severs the yarn.

There may be secured to the hub of hell crank lever \42, 43 an arm 47 having a hooked end which, as said bell crank swings, engages the thread that is withdrawn from action and carries it up between the clamping members.

and 34 is controlled by a non-rotatable camselecting cam, or selector, 50 (see Figs. 2, 5 and 6) which is carried .bya longitudinall movable and radially extending pair of rods 51 slidable in a bracket 52 depending from the stationary cam ring 5. Selector 50 may be shifted into five difl'er'ent positions, in one of' which it is out of alignment with all the cams and in any other of "which it is in alignment with one or the other of the cams.

When selector 50 is in alignment with any lifting all .the detents and releasing all the yarn fingers except the one that has just been moved into yarn feeding position and is'beactuation of anyof the yarn fingers or deing held in that position by its slide; all as hereinbefor'e described.. I V

When-sele'ctorl50 is moved out of align.-. "ment with all the'cams 31,32, 33 and 34, no

ltents occurs? Hence, any. yarn finger that is v in, action remains in action and such yarn. fingers asare out ofaction rema n out of acthe pattern of the fabtion; ."Inother words ric remainsmn hanged.

1 (Each of the four sets of yarn-changing devices s "operable (through the medium of rotatable cams 131-, 32,33 and 34) byiits own specialselector 50. Therefare therefore four of these selectors, each having its own actuating rods 51 carrying'a block 53.. Two off.

the blocks 53 (see- Fig. 9)

55',- 55,, 'are connected to the long arms of are operable by; bell crank levers 54, 54, which, through links which carry'rollers 57, 57. The blocks on p the other two pairs of rods 51 have a pin and slot connection with pivoted levers 58, 58, having arms carr ing rollers 59, 59. The four'rollers, 57, 5 59, 59 .rest respectively against projections on the ends of four levers 6O (seeFigs. 10 and 11) swin able on a common shaft secured to a brac :et 62 on cam ring 5. The four levers 60 carry on their ends rollers 61, which are respectively in line' of travel of lugs on four patternchains 71,

72, 7 3 and 74, all mounted on sprockets driv-.

en by a common shaft 75 turnable in bear-- ings in bracket 62. The pattern shaft has secured to it a ratchet 76,'which is intermittently operable by a push pawl 77 depending from an arm 79 secured to a shaft 80 turn-. able in bracket 62. To shaft 80 is secured an arm 81 having on its end a roller 82 in the pathof travel of a cam 84 secured to the revoluble frame a carrying the needle cylinder d. A holding pawl 85 pivoted on bracket 62 holds ratchet 76 from slipping back after it has been actuated by pawl 77. A spring 78 maintains pawl'77, and a spring 86maintains holding pawl 85, in operative relation with ratchet 76. A spring 83 holds arm 81 in the path of travel of cam 84, but yields to allow the cam to operate the arm.

It will be understood that the invention is applicable to a single feed machine on which provision for changes of yarn is desired, as, forexample, there need be only a single pattern chain, a single selector 50,

a single mechanical connection between the pattern chain and selector 50, a single set of slides 11, 12, 13, 1% a single set of yarn fingers 1, 2, 3, 4:, and a single set of detents 21, 22, 23, 24:; and-the yarn fingers maybe two or more in number with a cor- 'a single feed machine is shown-in Figs. 12

and 13. The machine may be the type of hosiery machine shown, for example, in the Harry A. Houseman Patent No. 1,207,757,

, dated December 12, 1916, in which 90 is theframe of the-machine and 91 the bed plate for'the needle cylinder 92, cam ring 93 and appurtenant mechanism. The yarn fingers,

finger retainers, cam actuating slides and the slidable vertical rod for actuating the retainers and the clamp and cutter may be the same as heretofore described and as [shown best in Fig. 2.; Instead of providing the series of cams 31, 32, 33 and 34,,shown in Fig. 2, which rotate with the needle cyl-,

inder, I provide a series of cams 310, 320, 330 and 340 and locate them on an intermittently rotatable cam disc 94, similar in structure and operation to that shown in said patent. Associated with the several cams 310, 320, 330 and 34O are cams m, which correspond in function to the cam w 'ofFig. 2 and actuate'a rod '0), which corresponds to the rode of Fig. 2. Of course,

there may be any number and arrangement of yarn finger actuating cams on the'cam disc. For example, if it is desired to simultaneously move into action two yarn fin gers, two cams are arranged side by side on the patterndisc, as illustrated in Fig. 13.

By means of my invention, a wide variety of patterns may be produced by arranging 'the'lugs or cams on the pattern device in any predetermined way. Thus, referring to the first described embodiment of my invention, if it be desired to produce circumferential stripes of different widths, the invention provides means for producing such stripes in any color .and of any width. If,

for example, it is desired to produce a blue stripe having the width of a single course, a'lug on any desired pattern chain .is so positioned that, at the stage of the knitting at which the blue yarn is to be. thrown in,

such lug is. caused to shift thecorresponding cam actuator 50 that will operate the particular rotatable cam that operates the particular slide that operates the fin er that carries the blueyarn. .It will be un erstood meegere I that the distance to which selector 50 is shifted depends on the height of the lug on the pattern chain. A low lug elfects a shift of selector 50 so that it operates cam 34, which is most distant from the axis of rotation. A lug somewhat higher shifts selector 50so that it operates cam 33. A lug still higher shifts selector 50 so that it operates cam 32. A high lug shifts selector 50 so that it operates cam 31. It willalso be understood that the finger carrying the blue yarn of only one of the four setsof yarn fingers is operated, namely, that set of yarn fingers which is positioned above the particular selector 50 that is shifted as described. The three fingers carrying the blue yarn of the otherthree sets are not operated,:becailse their corresponding selectors 50 are not positioned to actuate the corresponding slide actuating cam.

If a double circumferential blue stripe is desired, lugs of the same height on two .adjacent pattern chains are caused to simultaneously similarly shift two adjacent cam selectors 50; and hence two corresponding yarn'fingers, one of one set andone of an adjacent set, are moved into action, thereby causing. two successive blue courses to be knit into the fabric. l i

If four su'ccessive'blue courses are to be knitted, lugs of'the same height onall four pattern chains are causedto simultaneously.

similarly shift all .four selectors 50.

If it is desired to knit alternate courses of (say) blue and white, lugs of the same height on alternate pattern chains are caused to simultaneously shift diametrically opposite selectors 50 to similar positions.

while two other lugs of the same height as a each other, but of a height different from the other two lugs, are caused to shift the other two diametrically opposite selectors 50 to positions similar to eachother but different from the positions to which the two first mentioned selectors are shifted.

. It will thus be understood that. a yarn of any color may be caused to knit any particula'r course ornumber'of courses of the fabric.

If it be desired that any particular yarn carrier shall remain in action for a number of courses, the correspondin cam selector 50 may be allowed to remain 1n its operative position; or, preferably, such cam selector may be shifted back to neutral position (that l is, where it aligns with none of the-cams 31, 32, 33, 34) and the detent correspondingv tosuch yarn carrier will maintain'it in yarn feeding position.

While the invention is described as plicable to a rotating needle cylinder and dial and rotating yarn-changing actuating cams, and a non-rotatable cam ring and dial cap and non-rotatable yarn fingers and selectors, it will be understood that either of these two groups of mechanisms may be rotatable and the other non-rotatable, as

is well understood in the art, and that theexpressions rotatable and non-rotatable,

, ly vertically and radially. No change in the mechanism would be required to make this adaptation.

Where, in the claims, I refer to elements, such as the cams 81, 32, 38, 34 and m, as being rotatable, I intend it to be understood that they partake of the relative movement of rotation of the needle cylinder, and in referringto elements, such as the yarn fingers, their actuators and the selectors 50, as being non-rotatable, I intend it to be understood that, like the came ring, they do not partake of the relative movement of f operate the retainer withdrawing rotation. of the needle cylinder.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: I

1., In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of yarn fingers independently movable into operative and inoperative positions, springs adapted to move the yarn. fingers into one position, independently operable'yarn finger actuators, one for each yarn finger, adapted to move the yarn fingers into the other position, retainers adapted torespectively engage .-the yarn fingers that have been moved into the second position and hold them in such position, each retainer being independently movable in the movement of a yarn fingerfrom the first to the second position, retainer-withdrawing means adapted to efiect the release by a retainer of a yarn finger in the second position to allow it to be moved into the first positionby its spring, a set of independently operable devices, one for each yarn finger actuator, adapted to actuate the respective yarn finger actuators, selecting means adapted to be shifted into difierent positions to selectively actuate any of-the said devices, another device adapted to cans, and pattern mechanism adapted to affect the movement of the selecting means'into said different positions and synchronously therewith efiect the operation of the device. for actuating the retainer withdrawing means;

' 2. In a circular knitting machine, the combinationwith 'a rotatable needle cylinder,

andinoperative positions, springs adapted to independently move the respective yarn fingers in one direction, independently operable yarn finger actuators adapted to move the respective yarn fingers in the other direction, retainers adapted to'hold the respective fingers in one position against the tension of their springs, each retainer being independently movable in the movement of a yarn carrier toward the last named position, a set of independently operable devices adapted to actuate'the respective yarn finger actuators, means independent of the yarn finger actuators to-temp0rarily withdraw from holding position any retainer that has been holding a yarn finger to allow the latter to be operated by its spring, a single selector adapted to be shifted into positions to actuate any of said devices and In such actuation to operate sa1d retainerwithdrawal means, and pattern mechanism adapted 'to move the selector into the different positions required to actuate said devices.

3.- In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of independently movable yarn fingers, springs tending to withdraw the respective yarn fingers out of yarn-feeding position, "means to selectively move the respective yarn fingers into yarn-feeding position, retainers adapted to hold the respective yarn fingers in yarn-feeding position, each retainer being independently movable in the movement of a yarn finger toward yarn-feeding position, means adapted, after the movement of a yarn finger into yarnfeeding position, to operate all the retainers to .allow any other yarn finger that is in yarn-feeding position to be withdrawn from such position by its spring'and to release said' retainers to cause the yarn finger that has been last moved into said positlon to be held in such position by its retainen I 4. In a circular knitting machine, the 1 combination with a rotatable needle 'cylinrotatable yarn finger actuators adapted to move the respective yarn fingers into yarnfeeding position, a set of retainers adapted to. hold the respective yarn fingers in yarn-- feeding position, each retainer being independently movable in the movement of a yarn finger toward yarn-feeding position, means to selectively actuate the yarn finger v actuators, andv means adapted, after the seable in opposite directions into operative lective movement-of a yarn finger into yarnfeeding position, to withdraw all the retainers to allow any yarnfinger in operative position to be withdrawn from operative position by its spring and to return said re-- tainers to cause any yarn finger that has been moved into operative positionby its tive yarn fingers in yarn-feeding position,

springs adapted to move: and hold the respective retainers *in holding position, each retainer bein independently movable in the 'movement 0 a yarn fingertoward yarnfeeding position, and means adapted, after the selective movement of a yarn'finger into yarn-feeding position, to withdraw all the retainers, against the action of their springs, to allow any yarn carrier finger in operative position to be withdrawn from o erative position by its spring and to re ease said retainers to allow one of them to be actuated by its spring to hold in yarn-feeding position any yarn finger that has been moved ,into such position.

6. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of yarn fingers adapted when in operative position, to feed yarn to the needles and independently movable in'opposite directions into operative and inoperative positions, springs adapted to independ-' ently move the respective yarn fingers in one direction, independent yarn fingers actuators adapted to move the respective yarn fingers in the other direction, retainers adapted to hold .the respective yarn fingers springs ten mg .45

in oneposition against the tension of their springs, each retainer bein independently movable in the movement 0 ts correspondingyarn fin er inthe last named direction to hold the retainers in holding'po'sitio'n, devices, one for each yarn fingeractuator, adapted to respectively operate the same, mechanism adapted synchronouslywith the operation of the yarn fingers in one direction, to temporarily withdraw all the retainers from holding position against the action of their springs, and means to independently and selectively operate said devices to bring them into operative relation with the respective finger actuators and to synchronously operate said retainer withdrawal mechanism.

7. In a circular knitting machine, the

' combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of independently movable yarn fingers, springs tending to withdraw the :respective' yarn fingers out of yarn-feeding position, cams, one for eachyarn finger, adapted to selectively move the respective yarn fingers into yarn-feeding position, re-

tainers adapted to hold therespective yarn" fingers in yarn-feeding position,'each retainer being independently movable in the movement of the corresponding yarn finger into yarn-feeding position, a lever adapted when moved in one direction to withdraw all said retainers from holding position to allow any yarn finger in operative position to be withdrawn from such position by its operable non-rotatable yarn finger actuators adapted to move the respective fingers into yarn-feeding position, a set of independ ently operable cams rotatable with the needle cylinder and adapted to actuate the respective yarn finger actuators, non-rotatable selecting means adapted to be shifted into positionto selectively actuate any of the rotatable'cams, and pattern mechanism adapted to move the selecting means into any predetermined operative position. V

9. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of non-rotatable independently movable yarn fingers, a set of independently operable non-rotatable yarn finger actuators adapted to move the respective fingers into.

yarn-feeding position, a set of independently operable cams rotatable with the needle cylinder and adapted to actuate the respective .yarn finger actuators, non-rotatable selecting means adapted to be shifted into position to selectively actuate any of the rotatable cams, means, operable after the actuation of the selected cam and the corresponding yarn finger actuator and yarn finger, to eiiect a withdrawal from yarnfeeding position of any yarn finger that is in yarn-feeding position, and pattern mechanism adapted to move the selecting means into any predetermined operative position.

10. In' a circular knitting machine, the combinatlon with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of non-rotatable independently f movable yarn fingers, a set of independently operable devices rotatable with the needle cylinder and adapted to move the respective fingersinto and temporarily hold them in yarn-feeding position, finger retainers adapted to hold the respective yarn fingers in yarn-feeding position, non-rotatable selectlng means adapted to be shifted into position to selectively operate the rotatable finger actuating devices, means,

operable in the actuation of a finger-actuating device, to withdraw from operative position any -retainer that is holding its corresponding yarn finger in yarn-feeding position, means to move into operative position the retainer corresponding to the finger that is moved into yarn-feeding position by its corresponding rotatable device, and pattern mechanism adapted to move the selecting means into any of its operative tive fingers into and temporarily hold them in yarn-feeding position, retainers adapted to hold the respective yarn fingers in yarnfeeding position, non-rotatable selecting means adapted-to be moved into position to selectively operate the finger-actuating devices, means, operable in the actuation of a finger-actuating device, to withdraw from operative position all the finger retainers and to release them before the selectively operated rotatable finger-moving and holding device releases its yarn" finger, and pattern mechanism adapted to move the selecting means into any of its actuating-positions. 4 a

12. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination with a rotatable needle cylin-- vices, adapted to so actuate said retainerwithdrawin means and to release said retainer-with rawing means before the actuated finger-moving and holding device releases its respective yarn finger, non-rotatable selecting means adapted to be moved into position to selectively operate the fingermoving and holding 'devices, and pattern mechanism adapted to shift the selecting means into any of its operative positions,

13. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatableneedle cylinder, of a set of non-rotatable independently movable yarn fingers, a set of non-rotatable independently operable slides adapted to move the respective fingers into yarnfeeding position, springs tending to withdraw the yarn fingers from yarn-feeding position, a set of independently operable cams rotatable with the needle cylinder and adaptedto actuate the respective slides, non-rotatable selecting means adapted to be moved into position to selectively actuate any of said cams, and pattern mechanism adapted to move the selecting means into any predetermined operative position.

14. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of non-rotatable independently movable yarn fingers, a set of non-rotatable independently operable slides adapted to move the respective fingers into yarn-feeding position, springs tending to withdraw the yarn fingers from yarn-feeding position, a set of independently operable cams rotatable with the needle cylinder and adapted to move the respective slides into position to move and temporarily hold tll respective yarn fingers in yarn-feeding position, retainers adapted to retain the respective yarn fingers in yarn-feeding position after they are released by their respective slides, non-rotatable selecting means adapted to be shifted into position to selectively actuate any of said cams, means operable by any of said cams to withdraw the retainers from retaining position to allow anyfinger in yarn-feeding position to be withdrawn from such position, said retainers being freed from said withdrawal means I to allow one of them to move into position to retain in yarn-feeding position the finger which is moved into yarn-feeding position by the cam and slide that are operated by the selecting means, and pattern mechanism adapted to move the selecting means into any predetermined operative position.

15. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with arotatab e needle cylinder, of a set of non-rotatable inde endently movable yarn fingers, a set 0 non-rotatable independently operable slides adapted to ''move the respective fingers into yarn-feeding position, springs tending tov withdraw the yarn fingers fromyarn-feeding position, retainers adapted to hold the yarn fingers in yarn-feeding position against the action of their springs, a set of independently operable slide actuating cams rotatable with the needle cylinder, a cam and connections therefrom to the retainers for moving the latter out of said retaining position, selecting means adapted to efiect the successive operation'ofone of the first 1 named cams and the last named cam to successively effect the movement of one ,o f'the fingers into ,yarn feeding positiom allow 16. In a circular knitting machine, the

" combination with a rotatable needle cylin'jselecting means,- one for each set of yarnchanging devices adapted to be moved into differentpositions to selectively operate the rotatable cams-and thereby respectively operate the yarn-changing devices of the corresponding set, and separate pattern mechanism adapted to position each selecting means.

. -17. Ina circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable needle. cylinder, of-a plurality of sets of non-rotatable yarn-changing devices, a plurality of nonrotatable selecting means, one for each set of yarn-changing devices, and each mov' able into different positions, pattern=con trolled mechanism for independently posi- .tioning each selecting means, and common means rotatable with the needle cylinderand operable by allthe selecting means and operabl'e by each selecting means to actuate the corresponding yarn-changing devices in accordance with the position of such selecting means.

18. In a-circular knitting machine, thecombination'with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a plurality of sets of non-rotatable independently movable yarn fingers, a set of independently operable devices rotatable with the needle cylinder and adapted to move the respective yarn, fingers of each set into yarn-feeding position, a plurality of selecting means, one for'each set of yarn'fin- 'gers, adapted, in the rotation of said set 9f finger-moving devices, to selectively actu- "ate the rotatable finger-moving devices and thereby selectivelyactuate the yarn fingers of the corresponding set, and pattern mech-- anism adapted to move the several selecting means independently and each of them into f position to actuate any predetermined rotatable finger-moving device.

319. In a circular knitting machine, the

.jcombination with a rotatable needle' cylinder, of a plurality of sets of non-rotatable independently movable yarn fingers, a plu- I'ality of sets of retainers, one set for each set of yarn fingers, adapted to hold the re- 55" set of independently operable devices rotat- "able with the needle cylinder and adapted spective fingers in yarn-feeding position, a

to move the respective yarn fingers of each set into yarn-feeding position and release the retainers of each set, and a plurality of selecting means, one for each set of yarn fingersand retainers, adapted, in the rotation of said set of finger-moving devices, to selectively actuate said devices and thereby selectively actuate the yarn fingers and release either of the selecting means that is the retainers of the corresponding set, and

pattern mechanismadapted to move the several selecting means independently and each of them into position to actuate any predetermined rotatable finger-movingv and re-' tamer-releasing device.

20. In a circular knitting machine, the

tive fingers of the corresponding sets of fingers intoyarn-feeding position, springs tending to withdraw the yarn fingers from yarn-feeding position, a, plurality of nonrotating. selecting means, one for each set of slides, each of which is movable into positions to effect the selective operation of the respective slides of the corresponding set, cams rotatable with the needle cylinder and adapted in their rotation to be actuated by os1- tioned to control a given slide, and the i'eby actuate such slide, and pattern mechanism independently controlling the positioning of each selecting means.

operable slides adapted to move the respec- 21. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a plurality of. sets of non-rotatable independently. movable yarn fingers, a set of non-rotatable independently operable slides for each set of fingers, the slides of a set being adapted to' move their corresponding fingers into, and temporarily hold them in, yarn-feeding position, springs tending to withdraw theyarn fingers, from yarn-feeding position, a plurality of sets of non-rotatable retainers adapted 'to hold'the respec-' tive fingers of the corresponding sets of fingers in. the yarn-feeding positions into which they are moved by their slides, a plurality of non-rotatable selectors, one for each set of slides, each of which is movable into position to efi'ect the selective operation of the respective slides of the correspondin set, a set of cams rotatable with the needle cylinder and adapted in their rotation to be actuated by either of the selectors that is positioned to effect the operation of a given slide and thereby'actuate such slide, inde pendent pattern mechanism controlling the positioning of each-selector, mechanismassociated with each set of retainers and adapted to lifttand temporarily hold them out of the'specified retaining position, and a cam rotatable with the needle cylinder and movable with the first named cams and adapted to operate said mechanism substan-' tially concurrently with the operation oftlre slides, thereby withdrawing said retainers to allow a yarn carrier that has been in yarn-feeding position to be withdrawn and allowing the retaine'rs to be repositioned to hold in yarn-feeding osition a yarn carrier that has been moved t ereinto by a. slide.

22. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a plurality of sets of non-rotatable yarn-changing devices, aset of cams rotatable with the needle cylinder and adapted to operate the arn-changing devices of the several sets and also selectively operate the yarn-changing devices of each set, a plurality of non-rotatable selectors, one for each set of yarn-changing devices, adapted to be moved 1nto different positions to selectively operate the rotatable cams and thereby selectively operate the yarn-changing devices of the corresponding set, separate pattern mechanisms adapted to position each selector, a non-rotatable clam and cutter for each set of yarn-changing evices, and means operable in the operation of, any cam to actuate the clamp to hold the yarn that is -withdrawn from feeding position and actuate the cutter to out the yarn so held.

23. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a plurality, of sets'of non-rotatable yarn-changing devices arranged at different points about'the-circnmference. of the needle cylinder, a plurality of non-rotatable selectors arranged in proximity to the respective yarn-changing devices, common means rotatable'with the needle cylinder and opera able by all the selectors and operable by each selector to actuate the corresponding yarnchanging devices in accordance with the position of the selector, selector-positioning means, one for each selector, and pattern chains corresponding in number to the selectors and located in proximity to one another and controlling the operation of the respective selector-positioning means.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadel hia, Pennsylvania, onthis l7thwday of Fune,

1925. HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN,

means 

